Saw guide and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A saw guide can include pivotally connected arcuate sections having a plurality of slots formed therein to receive and guide saw blades as they cut a workpiece, such as a pipe or tube. The slots are of varying width so that the saw guide can be used with different saws. For example, the saw guide can include a first slot sized to receive and guide the blade of a reciprocating saw, and a relatively narrower second slot, sized to receive the blade of a portable band saw. The saw guide can include a locking mechanism to securely hold the saw guide on the workpiece, and a stopping mechanism for preventing the saw blade from cutting into the saw guide.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/047,057, filed Oct. 7, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,566,718, and whichis incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a saw guide. One embodiment of theinvention comprises a saw guide having a plurality of slots of varyingwidth to receive and guide saw blades of varying size.

Saw guides are known in the art. Typically such devices are used toguide a saw blade as it cuts a workpiece so that the workpiece has aclean and even edge when the cut is complete.

There are a variety of saws having blades of various size and thickness.For example, reciprocating saws typically have blades that aresignificantly thicker than portable band saws. Reciprocating saws andportable band saws are often used to saw metal piping and tubing, and itis common to use a saw guide when cutting a pipe or tube with a portableband saw or reciprocating saw. However, because of the difference inthickness of the blades of the reciprocating and portable band saws, sawguides constructed for use with a reciprocating saw typically cannot beused with a portable band saw and vice versa.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a saw guidethat can accommodate blades of varying thickness, without the use ofadditional tools and/or structural modification of the saw guide. Theseand other objects of the present invention can be achieved in variousembodiments of the invention described herein.

One embodiment of the invention comprises an apparatus for guiding sawblades comprising a body adapted for positioning on a workpiece to becut with a saw blade; and first and second slots formed in the body forreceiving saw blades therein. The first slot is wider than the secondslot so that the first and second slots can receive at least two sawblades of varying width.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first slot isadapted for receiving the blade of a reciprocating saw.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first slot has awidth of 0.062 inches.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the second slot isadapted for receiving a blade of a portable band saw.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the second slot has awidth of 0.040 inches.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the body has first andsecond arcuate members, and each of the first and second members havefirst and second ends. The first end of the first arcuate member isreleasably attached to the first end of the second arcuate member, andthe second end of the first section is pivotally connected to the secondend of the second member. As such, the body is moveable between a closedposition in which the first ends of the first and second arcuate membersare attached, and an open position in which the first ends of the firstand second arcuate members are released from attachment and the firstand second sections can freely pivot.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the body issubstantially cylindrical when in the closed position, and the workpieceto be cut by the saw guide is substantially cylindrical.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first and secondarcuate sections are semi-cylindrical.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the second ends of thefirst and second arcuate members are pivotally connected by at least onehinge attached to the second ends of the first and second sections.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the saw guide includesa locking means for releasably locking the first ends of the first andsecond arcuate members together.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a first substantiallyU-shaped channel is formed at the first end of the first arcuate memberand a second substantially U-shaped channel is formed at the first endof the second arcuate section. Each U-shaped channel has an outer edgeand an inner edge. The inner edge of the first channel communicates withthe inner edge of the second channel when the arcuate members are in theclosed position. A set screw is pivotally connected to the first channeland extends from the first channel into the second channel and beyondthe outer edge of the second channel. A wing nut is threadingly engagedon the portion of the set screw extending beyond the outer edge of thesecond channel. The wing nut can be tightened against the outer edge ofthe second channel to lock the first ends of the first and secondarcuate members together.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a first stoppingmember is positioned in the first actuate member and a second stoppingmember is positioned in the second arcuate member. The stopping membersprevent a saw blade from advancing in the body beyond the first andsecond slots.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first stoppingmember comprises a first roll pin, and the second stopping membercomprises a second roll pin. Set screws retain the roll pins within bodyof the saw guide.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a saw guide comprisesa body adapted for positioning on a substantially cylindrical workpieceto be cut with a saw blade. At least one slot is formed in the body forreceiving a saw blade therein and guiding the saw blade while cuttingthe workpiece, and at least one stopping member is positioned in thebody to stop the saw blade from advancing in the body beyond the slotand penetrating the body.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a roll pin ispositioned within an aperture formed within the body and held within theaperture by a set screw threadingly engaged to an inner surface of theaperture.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the saw guide includesa first slot sized to receive the blade of a reciprocating saw, and asecond slot sized to receive the blade of a portable band saw.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a saw guide comprisesa substantially cylindrical body for positioning on a substantiallycylindrical workpiece to be cut with a saw blade. The body is comprisedof first and second arcuate members, and each of the first and secondarcuate members has first and second ends. The first end of the firstarcuate member is releasably attached to the first end of the secondarcuate member, and the second end of the first member is pivotallyconnected to the second end of the second member. The body is moveablebetween a closed position in which the first ends of the first andsecond arcuate members are attached, and an open position in which thefirst ends of the first and second arcuate members are released fromattachment, and the first and second members can freely pivot. At leastone slot is formed in the body for receiving a saw blade therein, andguiding the saw blade while cutting the workpiece. A first substantiallyU-shaped channel is formed at the first end of the first arcuate memberand a second substantially U-shaped channel is formed at the first endof the second arcuate member. Each U-shaped channel has an outer edgeand an inner edge, and the inner edge of the first channel communicateswith the inner edge of the second channel when the arcuate members arein the closed position. A set screw is pivotally connected to the firstchannel and extends from the first channel into the second channel andbeyond the outer edge of the second channel. A wing nut is threadinglyengaged on the portion of the set screw that extends beyond the outeredge of the second channel. The wing nut is tightened against the outeredge of the second channel to lock the first ends of the first andsecond arcuate members together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a saw guide according to a preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the saw guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the saw guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another elevational view of the saw guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another elevational view of the saw guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the saw guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the saw guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an environmental perspective view of the saw guide of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 9 is another environmental perspective view of the saw guide ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION

A saw guide according to a preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1-9, and shown generally at reference numeral 10.As shown in FIG. 1, the saw guide 10 comprises a substantiallycylindrical body 12, and saw slots 14, 16 formed in the body 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the saw guide body 12 comprises first and secondarcuate members 20, 30 having upper ends 21, 31 and lower ends 22, 32,respectively. The arcuate members 20, 30 can be substantiallysemi-cylindrical as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The arcuate members 20, 30 arereleasably joined at the upper ends 21, 31 by a locking mechanism 40,and pivotally connected at the lower ends 22, 32. The arcuate members20, 30 can be pivotally connected by a pair of hinges 51, 52 positionedwithin grooves 24, 25, formed in the first arcuate member 21 andcorresponding grooves 34, 35 formed in the second arcuate member 30, asshown in FIG. 1. As such, the arcuate members 20, 30 can pivot about thehinges 51, 52, thereby allowing the saw guide body 12 to move from aclosed position, shown in FIGS. 2-4, to a fully open position shown inFIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 2-6, a first locking section 26 is formed on the firstarcuate member 20 proximate the upper end 21, and a corresponding secondlocking section 36 is formed on the second arcuate section 30 proximatethe upper end 31 of the second arcuate member 30. Each locking section26, 36 is comprised of a substantially U-shaped channel, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 6. The locking sections 26, 36 have inner edges 27, 37 andouter edges, 28, 38, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. The inner edges27, 37 face each other when the saw guide body 12 is closed, as shown inFIGS. 2-4, and the U-shaped channels of the locking sections 26, 36 arealigned with each other. As such, the U-shaped channels are incommunication with each other and provide a single continuous U-shapedchannel when the saw guide body 12 is in the closed position.

The locking mechanism 40 can comprise a set screw 41 pivotally connectedto the first locking section 26, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The setscrew 41 can be pivotally connected by way of a pivot pin 45 extendingthrough an aperture in the set screw 41 and into an aperture in thefirst locking section 26. When in the closed position, the set screw 41extends through the first and second locking sections 26, 36 and extendsbeyond the outer edge 38 of the second locking section 36, as shown inFIG. 2. A wing nut 42 is threadingly engaged on the portion of the setscrew 41 extending beyond the outer edge of the second locking section36. The wing nut 42 can be tightened against the outer edge 38 of thesecond locking section 36 to lock the first and second arcuate members20, 30 together. A washer 43 can be positioned on the set screw 41, asshown in FIGS. 5 and 7, to protect the wingnut 42. If desired, the setscrew 41 and wingnut 42 can be removed from the saw guide 10 by removingthe pivot pin 45, and the saw guide 10 can be locked in the closedposition using other locking means, such as a clamp positioned on thelocking sections 26, 36.

The saw slots 14, 16 comprise a reciprocating saw slot 14 and a portableband saw slot 16. The reciprocating saw slot 14 has a greater width “W”than the width “w” of the portable band saw slot 16, as shown in FIG. 2.The slots 14, 16 extend completely through the arcuate members 20, 30until terminating proximate the lower ends 21, 31 and locking sections26, 36, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

The reciprocating saw slot 14 is comprised of a first slot section 14 aformed in the first arcuate member 20, and a corresponding second slotsection 14 b formed in the second arcuate member 30. The two slotsections 14 a, 14 b are aligned with each other effectively forming asingle slot 14 when in the closed position, as shown in Figure. The sawslot 14 is particularly sized to receive the blade of a reciprocatingsaw, such as the saw sold under the name SAWZALL by Milwaukee ElectricTool Corporation. The saw slot 14 has a width “W” of 0.062 inches.

The portable band slot 16 comprises a first slot section 16 a formed inthe first arcuate member 20, and a corresponding second slot section 16b formed in the second arcuate member 30. The two slot sections 16 a, 16b are aligned with each other functionally forming a single slot 16 whenin the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. The saw slot 16 isparticularly sized to receive the blade of a portable band saw, such asthe saw sold under the name PORTA-BAND by DEWALT Power Tools andAccessories. The saw slot 16 has a width “w” of 0.040 inches.

The saw guide 10 can include a stopping member feature to prevent a sawblade from extending past the slots 14, 16 and cutting into the sawguide body 12. As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of stopping members, such asroll pins 61, 62 can be positioned in round apertures 29, 39 formed inthe arcuate sections 20, 30, respectively. The upper portion of theinner surface of each aperture 29, 39 can have female threads. The rollpins are positioned at the bottom of the apertures 29, 39, and malethreaded set screws 71, 72 are screwed into the apertures 29, 39 abovethe roll pins 61, 62, respectively, keeping the roll pins 61, 62 inplace. A saw blade moving past the lower most portion of either slot 14or slot 16 contacts the roll pins 61, 62 preventing further movement ofthe saw blade. Upon contact with a saw blade, the roll pins 61, 62 spinso as not to destroy the cutting edge and/or the saw blade. The setscrews 71, 72 hold the roll pins 61, 62 in place. The set screws 71, 72do not lock the pins 61, 62 in a rigid state, but rather allow the pins61, 62 to spin within the apertures 29, 39. When desired, the set screws71, 72 can be unscrewed, and the set screws 71, 72 and roll pins 61, 62can removed from the apertures 29, 39.

Methods of using the saw guide 10 according to a preferred embodiment ofthe invention are illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The saw guide 10 can beunlocked by rotating the wingnut 43 counterclockwise on the set screw 41and pivoting the set screw out of the U-shaped channel of the secondlocking section 36, as shown in FIG. 5. The arcuate sections 20, 30 aremoved to the fully open position, shown in FIG. 6. The saw guide 10 ispositioned over a workpiece 100 that is to be cut with a saw blade. Theworkpiece 100 can be a metal tube, pipe or any other substantiallycylindrical object to be cut with a saw. The saw guide 10 is positionedon the workpiece 100 at the location where it is desired to cut theworkpiece. The arcuate sections 20, 30 are closed together again, andthe saw guide 10 is locked in the closed position, shown in FIGS. 3 and4, by rotating the set screw 41 into the U-shaped channel of the secondlocking section 36 and turning the wingnut 42 clockwise on the set screw41 to tighten engagement of the wingnut 42 against the washer 43 and theouter surface 28 of the first locking section 26. As such, the lockingmechanism 40 enables the saw guide 10 to be positioned securely on theworkpiece without the use of additional tools. In addition, the lockingmechanism 40 and hinges 51, 52 allow for variances in diameter of theworkpiece 100.

The user selects a particular saw to use on the workpiece 100. The usercan select between a reciprocating saw or portable band saw. If areciprocating saw is selected, the blade 82 of a reciprocating saw 80 ispositioned in the reciprocating saw slot 14, as shown in FIG. 8. Theblade 82 is activated and moved downward onto the workpiece 100. Theslot 14 maintains the blade 82 in a substantially straight verticalalignment as the blade 82 cuts through the workpiece 100, resulting in aclean, even edge to the cut workpiece 100. If the blade 82 moves pastthe lower most portion of the slot 14, the blade 82 contacts the rollpins 61, 62, causing the pins 61, 62 to rotate, which results invibration of the saw guide 10. The vibration of the saw guide 10 alertsthe user to stop further progression of the blade 82, thereby preventingthe blade 82 from penetrating into the locking sections 26, 36 of thesaw guide 10 and damaging the saw guide 10. After sawing of theworkpiece 100 is completed, the saw guide 10 can be unlocked again byturning the wingnut 42 counterclockwise on the set screw 41 and rotatingthe set screw 41 out of the second locking section 36. The saw guide 10can be removed from the workpiece 100.

Alternatively, if the user elects to use a portable band saw on theworkpiece 100, the blade 92 of a portable band saw 90 is positioned inthe portable band saw slot 16, as shown in FIG. 9. The portable band saw90 is activated and the blade 92 is moved downward onto the workpiece100. The slot 16 maintains the blade 92 in substantially straightvertical alignment as the blade 92 cuts through the workpiece 100,resulting in a clean, even edge to the cut workpiece 100. If the blade92 moves past the lower most portion of the slot 16, the blade 92contacts the roll pins 61, 62, causing the pins 61, 62 to rotate, whichresults in vibration of the saw guide 10. Vibration of the saw guide 10alerts the user to stop further progression of the blade 92, therebypreventing the blade 92 from penetrating into the locking sections 26,36 of the saw guide 10 and damaging the saw guide 10. After sawing ofthe workpiece 100 is completed, the saw guide 10 can be unlocked againby turning the wingnut 42 counterclockwise on the set screw 41 androtating the set screw 41 out of the second locking section 36. The sawguide 10 can be removed from the workpiece 100.

The saw guide 10 provides a single apparatus that can be used to guideblades of both portable band saws and reciprocating saws. No tools orstructural adjustments to the saw guide 10 are required to change from aportable band saw to a reciprocating saw or vice versa.

The body 12 can be nickle or zinc plated, and should be made of amaterial harder than the typical blades of portable band saws andreciprocating saws. The body 12 of the saw guide 10 can be made invarious sizes for use on workpieces of various size. For example, thesaw guide 10 can be sized for tubes or pipes having diameters of ½ inch,¼ inch, one inch, one and one-half inches, two inches, two and a halfinches, three inches, four inches, six inches and eight inches, amongother sizes.

It should be noted that while the saw guide 10, which is one particularembodiment of the invention, is described above as being adapted for usewith blades of portable band saws and reciprocating saws, the inventionis not so limited. For example, saw guides according to the inventioncan be used with various saw blades other than portable band saws andreciprocating saws. In addition, the invention is not limited to a sawguide having only two slots of varying width to accommodate varyingwidth blades. Alternative embodiments of the invention include sawguides having three or more slots of varying width to receive three ormore different saw blades.

A saw guide and a method of using same are described above. Variouschanges can be made to the invention without departing from its scope.The above description of embodiments of the invention are provided forthe purpose of illustration only and not limitation—the invention beingdefined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A saw guide comprising: (a) a substantiallycylindrical body for positioning on a substantially cylindricalworkpiece to be cut with a saw blade, the body comprising first andsecond arcuate members, each of the first and second arcuate membersdefining a length and a width and having first and second ends, thefirst end of the first arcuate member releasably attached to the firstend of the second arcuate member, and the second end of the firstarcuate member pivotally connected to the second end of the secondarcuate member, whereby the body is moveable between a closed positionwherein the first ends of the first and second arcuate members areattached, and an open position wherein the first ends of the first andsecond arcuate sections are released from attachment and the first andsecond sections are allowed to freely pivot; (b) first and second slotsections integrally formed in the first arcuate member and extendingentirely through the width of the first arcuate member, the first slotsection substantially parallel to the second slot section; (c) first andsecond slot sections integrally formed in the second arcuate member andextending entirely through the width of the second arcuate member, thefirst slot section substantially parallel to the second slot section;and (d) wherein the first slot section of the first arcuate member islinearly aligned with the first slot section of the second arcuatemember to form a substantially continuous first slot for receiving a sawblade when the body is in the closed position, and the second slotsection of the first arcuate member is linearly aligned with the secondslot section of the second arcuate member to form a substantiallycontinuous second slot for receiving a saw blade when the body is in theclosed position, wherein the first slot is wider than the second slotwhereby the first slot is adapted for receiving a first saw blade havinga first width and the second slot is adapted for receiving a second sawblade having a second width less than the first width of the first sawblade.
 2. The saw guide according to claim 1, wherein the first sawblade comprises a reciprocating saw blade.
 3. The saw guide according toclaim 2, wherein the first slot has a width of 0.062 inches.
 4. The sawguide according to claim 1, wherein the second saw blade comprises aportable band saw.
 5. The saw guide according to claim 4, wherein thesecond slot has a width of 0.040 inches.
 6. The saw guide according toclaim 1, wherein each of the first and second arcuate members aresemi-cylindrical.
 7. The saw guide according to claim 1, wherein thesecond ends of the first and second arcuate members are pivotallyconnected by at least one hinge attached to the second ends of the firstand second arcuate members.
 8. The saw guide according to claim 1,further comprising locking means for releasably locking the first endsof the first and second arcuate members together.
 9. The saw guideaccording to claim 1, further comprising a first substantially U-shapedchannel formed at the first end of the first arcuate member and a secondsubstantially U-shaped channel formed at the first end of the secondarcuate member, each U-shaped channel having an outer edge and an inneredge, the inner edge of the first channel in communication with theinner edge of the second channel when the first and second arcuatemembers are in the closed position, and further comprising a threadedmember pivotally connected to the first channel and extending from thefirst channel into the second channel and beyond the outer edge of thesecond channel, and a wing nut threadingly engaged on a portion of thethreaded member extending beyond the outer edge of the second channelwherein the wing nut is tightened against the outer edge of the secondchannel to lock the first ends of the first and second arcuate memberstogether.
 10. The saw guide according to claim 1, wherein the first sawblade comprises a reciprocating saw blade, and the second saw bladecomprises a portable band saw blade.
 11. The saw guide according toclaim 10, wherein the first slot has a width of 0.062 inches, and thesecond slot has a width of 0.040 inches.
 12. The saw guide according toclaim 10, wherein the second end of the first arcuate member and thesecond end of the second arcuate members are pivotally connected by atleast one hinge attached to the first and second arcuate members andextending substantially parallel to the first and second slots, and thefirst and second slots extend entirely through the second end of thefirst actuate member and the second end of the second arcuate member.13. A method of using a saw guide comprising: (a) providing a saw guidecomprising: (i) a substantially cylindrical body comprising first andsecond arcuate members, each of the first and second arcuate membersdefining a length and a width and having first and second ends, thefirst end of the first arcuate member releasably attached to the firstend of the second arcuate member, and the second end of the firstarcuate member pivotally connected to the second end of the secondarcuate member, whereby the body is moveable between a closed positionwherein the first ends of the first and second arcuate members areattached, and an open position wherein the first ends of the first andsecond arcuate sections are released from attachment and the first andsecond sections are allowed to freely pivot, (ii) first and second slotsections integrally formed in the first arcuate member and extendingentirely through the width of the first arcuate member, the first slotsection substantially parallel to the second slot section, (iii) firstand second slot sections integrally formed in the second arcuate memberand extending entirely through the width of the second arcuate member,the first slot section substantially parallel to the second slotsection, and (iv) wherein the first slot section of the first arcuatemember is linearly aligned with the first slot section of the secondarcuate member to farm a substantially continuous first slot forreceiving a saw blade when the body is in the closed position, and thesecond slot section of the first arcuate member is linearly aligned withthe second slot section of the second arcuate member to form asubstantially continuous second slot for receiving a saw blade when thebody is in the closed position, wherein the first slot is wider than thesecond slot, whereby the first slot is adapted for receiving a first sawblade having a first width and the second slot is adapted for receivinga second saw blade having a second width less than the first width ofthe first saw blade; (b) positioning the substantially cylindrical bodyon a substantially cylindrical workpiece to be cut with a saw blade; and(c) positioning a reciprocating saw blade within the first slot orpositioning a portable band saw blade within the second slot.
 14. Themethod according to claim 13, wherein the first slot has a width of0.062 inches, and the second slot has a width of 0.040 inches.